During the 2013 season, the club competed in – and hosted – the Ontario Senior Lifesaving Championships in Tillsonburg, and traveled to Trois Rivieres, Quebec to compete at the National Lifesaving Championships hosted by the University of Quebec.

On Saturday, March 2, the Tillsonburg Lifesaving Club hosted the 2013 Ontario Senior Lifesaving Championships with 11 clubs in attendance from across the province.

The team also acquired a silver medal in the girls 16-19 4x50 Obstacle Relay consisting of Katherine Bak, Jessica Bell, Kyla Lance and Kendra Freund, bronze in the men’s open Medley Relay with Evan VanMoerkerke, Garrett Heggie, Connor Nesbitt and Justin Jennings, bronze in the girls 16-19 Manikin Relay with Katherine Bak, Jessica Bell, Kendra Freund and Taylor Brocanier, and gold in the girls 16-19 Medley Relay with Katherine Bak, Jessica Bell, Kendra Freund and Melanie Corbett. A bronze medal was also earned by Jeff McCurdy and Evan VanMoerkerke in the men’s open Line Throw as well as an outstanding gold performance by Melanie Corbett and Kendra Freund in the girls 16-19 Line Throw event.

The first weekend in June saw a small contingent of five athletes travel to Trois Rivieres to compete at the 2013 National Lifesaving Championships.

Competing with the Mississauga Lifesaving Club, Kelsey VanOverloop, Melanie Corbett, Kendra Freund, Jeff McCurdy and Davey Hildebrand swam to personal bests and earned individual and team medals throughout the weekend.

VanOverloop and Freund earned a silver medal as part of the women’s 4x50 Obstacle Relay team. Hildebrand earned a silver medal with men’s 4x50 Medley Relay team. Freund also swam to a bronze medal finish in her best event, the 100m Tow with Fins.

Melanie Corbett and Freund took the highlight of the weekend by earning gold in the girls 16-19 Line Throw event making Melanie and Kendra Provincial and National Gold Medalist in their signature event.

The club of 14 swimmers placed a strong 4th overall in Canada in a deep field of 160 swimmers and 21 teams.

The final event for the pool lifesaving season was the 2013 Ontario Junior Lifesaving Championships in Richmond Hill.

Fourteen swimmers from the Junior Division earned Tillsonburg Lifesaving Club a strong 4th place finished out of 150 swimmers and eight clubs. Tillsonburg earned five relay medals with Brandon Shearing, Brian MacCormack, Larissa Carr, and Lauren Fulton earning first place overall individually overall Ashley Clark 3rd place overall individually in their respective age group categories.

The team will transition into the summer waterfront season with participation at the 2013 Ontario Junior Waterfront and Senior Waterfront championships in mid August. The juniors will be running a day camp one week prior to the competition in preparation.

Check the Town of Tillsonburg’s Leisure Guide for info on the lifesaving club or call 519-688-9011.